A few weeks ago the team ventured out to ESC Silicon Valley in San Jose, where we had the opportunity to show off some of our favorite .NET Micro Framework devices and prototypes, and share our new MF video,featuring our fearless leader, Colin Miller.

One of the most popular demos was a concept device created by connecting an Epson point-of-sale printer to a Freescale development board running the .NET Micro Framework and serves as a gateway to network-enable the printer using DPWS protocols. With DPWS, a PC or other device can easily discover the printers on the network and determine their capabilities, making configuration more plug-and-play and improving interoperability with various manufacturers’ point-of-sale terminals.

We also showcased Ricavision’s VAVE100 universal remote control, which provides direct access and complete control of home entertainment devices, including a Windows® Vista Media Center PC. It’s built on the .NET Micro Framework by way of Microsoft’s Windows SideShow Device SDK. Truly universal, it has a built-in database of 1500 brands of entertainment equipment or can learn codes from your own remotes. The VAVE 100 also gives you the power of Windows SideShow in the palm of your hand, bringing you news, weather, e-mail, pictures from your computer and movie times right on the LCD. The Vave100 Universal Remote control can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.com.

Also popular was a concept device for the food and beverage service industry with a touch screen, magnetic stripe reader, and near-field communications reader, all interfaced with managed code drivers, and an Ethernet interface operated by the native .NET Micro Framework TCP/IP stack. It allows customers to quickly identify themselves, confirm their “usual,” and pay in one easy tap or swipe of their stored-value or loyalty card. Several kiosks can be connected to a PC-based back end via network to fulfill orders, authorize credit card payments, track customer habits, and more.